Congressman holding lottery for Pope tickets

Congressman Leonard Lance is accepting requests from residents of New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District for tickets to take part in Pope Francis' address to the U.S. Congress on Sept. 24.

Interested residents of the district should go to http://lance.house.gov/pope to sign up to enter the ticket lottery. The deadline for requests is Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. The Seventh Congressional District includes Chester, Chester Twp., Washington Twp., Mount Olive, Mine Hill, Wharton and Dover.

Lance’s office has received a limited allocation of tickets and those interested will be placed into a lottery. Those receiving them will be contacted for further details. For questions, call Lance’s Washington Office at 202-225-5361.

This is the first time a pope has ever visited the Capitol and addressed Congress.

Ticketholders will be able to watch the Pope’s address via a live broadcast in a location on the West Front of the Capitol. The Pope has expressed an interest in making a brief appearance on the West Front of the Capitol after his remarks, according to a press release from Lance’s office.

All of the tickets are standing room only, although there will be a limited seating area for those with disabilities. While a clear line-of-sight cannot be guaranteed for all attending the broadcast, the space provides an opportunity for guests to be part of the visit, the release said.

Ticketholders are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Capital, lodging and other trip expenses. Tickets may not be sold or given away, and they will only be given to residents of New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District.